Latest news with #SamanthaJade
Perth Now
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Perth pop singer to bring iconic movie to life on stage
Samantha Jade is set to play her 'dream role' after she landed the lead in Pretty Woman: The Musical, based on the iconic movie and made famous by Julia Roberts. The 38-year-old singer and actress will star as Vivian (Roberts' character) in the upcoming Broadway and West End musical, which makes its debut in Brisbane and Sydney later this year. The show will play at Queensland Performing Arts Centre from October 5 and at the Theatre Royal, Sydney from November. 'This is a dream role for me. Such a beloved film that is a favourite of so many worldwide, and I'm delighted to be able to originate the role for Australian audiences,' the Perth-born star said. 'I never thought I would do a musical because I dance and sing, and act, but all separately, not at the same time and this is a big challenge. 'I love this movie so much, and the music in this is next level.' Jade told Sunrise she was in LA checking out of a one-night stay at the Beverly Wilshire, the famous hotel from the film, when she found out she got the role. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. The 1990 film sees rich businessman Edward (played by Richard Gere) hire Vivan, a prostitute, to join him at several social events; however, things soon get tricky when he begins to fall in love with someone from a very different world. Now, fans of the characters will get to know them in a whole new way with a dazzling theatrical take on a love story for the ages. Jade said the film was her 'comfort movie' that she used to watch with her mum, who sadly died in 2014 after a battle with cancer. 'It was one of our four favourites and last year was the 10th anniversary of her passing, so I was watching it a lot, weirdly, and then I got a call to audition and I was like 'Oh my god' this just seems perfect,' she said. As for who is playing her lover, all Jade could share was that the actor was 'someone Australian and someone great.' 'We couldn't get Richard, but we've got the next best thing.' Suzanne Jones of Jones Theatrical Group said the group knew if they didn't offer Jade the role, they would immediately regret it. 'We knew from the first time Samantha auditioned that not offering her the role of Vivian would be a big mistake. Big. Huge! Her voice perfectly suits Bryan Adams' iconic score, and I know Australian audiences will fall in love with her when she makes her debut at QPAC in October,' she said. Samantha Jade never thought she would take on a musical. Credit: Supplied No stranger to a live audience, Jade won Channel 7's X Factor in 2012 and has since amassed a collective 91 million streams and 2.3 million sales worldwide, released the song Shake That with Pitbull and released her album NINE in 2015, which hit number two on the ARIA charts. Our homegrown talent has been a regular fixture on Australian TV, starring as Kylie Minogue in the miniseries INXS: Never Tear Us Apart, as well as an ongoing guest-starring role in Home and Away. Her screen credits don't end there; in 2023, she joined the cast of the second season of Celebrity Apprentice, and last year was the runner-up of Channel 7's Dancing With The Stars. Jade has continued with her music career of late, releasing her EP Love. Sick. Vol 2 in August. Pretty Woman: The Musical features a rock score from GRAMMY winners Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance (Summer of '69, Heaven), direction and choreography by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Hairspray) and a book by the original movie's director Garry Marshall and screenwriter J.F. Lawton. The musical made its Broadway debut at the Nederlander Theatre in 2018 and has played in Spain, Italy, Poland and Germany as well as an extended West End season. Further casting announcements are set to be made in the coming weeks.
Time Out
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Oh, pretty woman! Broadway's smash-hit ‘Pretty Woman: The Musical' is coming to Sydney in 2025
Get ready: One of the most iconic love stories of all time is hitting the stage, with Pretty Woman: The Musical coming to Sydney in 2025 – bringing a star-studded cast, memorable one-liners and a whole lot of bangers. The Broadway and West End sensation is having its Aussie premiere in Brisbane later this year before delighting Sydneysiders when it comes to the Harbour City this spring. Adding even more buzz, Aussie pop superstar Samantha Jade will make her musical theatre debut in the starring role of Vivian. This is going to be big. And we mean BIG! HUGE! Since its debut on Broadway in 2018, Pretty Woman: The Musical has broken box office records and captivated audiences in London's West End, as well as in Spain, Italy and Germany. Based on one of Hollywood's most beloved rom-coms – the 1990 blockbuster Pretty Woman, starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere – this musical adaptation tells the iconic tale of a chance meeting between Edward (a ruthless businessman) and Vivian (a free-spirited escort) in a whole new way. One of Australia's favourite triple threats, Samantha Jade will play the role made famous by one of her own favourite actors, Julia Roberts. The X Factor Australia winner says, 'I was so familiar with the movie, and it felt like all the stars were aligning when I got the first email to come and audition.' 'I've been lucky enough to sing and dance and act, but separately,' Jade continues. 'Doing them at once, live on stage, eight times a week... that's a whole new challenge.' You can catch Pretty Woman: The Musical at Theatre Royal Sydney from November. Brought to life by a powerhouse creative team, the production features a blazing rock score from Grammy winners Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance ('Summer of '69', 'Heaven'), with direction and choreography by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray, Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde), and a book by the original movie's director Garry Marshall with screenwriter J.F. Lawton. Trust us, missing this musical during its Sydney run would be a big mistake. A big, huge mistake! You can join the waitlist for tickets in Sydney here.
7NEWS
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
Pretty Woman: The Musical is coming to Australia
One of Australia's favourite performers, Samantha Jade, will star as Vivian, in the upcoming Broadway and West End smash hit musical PRETTY WOMAN: The Musical, which makes its debut at QPAC Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) in Brisbane in October before debuting at Theatre Royal Sydney from November. Based on the iconic film, Samantha will play the role made famous worldwide by the much-loved Julia Roberts. Samantha Jade has been a household name in Australia for many years since winning Channel 7's X Factor in 2012. She has amassed a collective 91 million streams and 2.3 million sales worldwide, released a single with Pitbull (Shake That) and released her album NINE in 2015 which hit #2 on the ARIA charts. The multi-talented Samantha has been a regular fixture on Australian television, starring as Kylie Minogue in the TV Miniseries INXS: Never Tear Us Apart, as well as an ongoing guest-starring role in Home & Away. She has also toured with One Direction and Westlife and has headlined the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras twice. In 2023, Samantha toured nationally with the Backstreet Boys and joined the cast of the second season of Celebrity Apprentice. Most recently, Samantha danced her way to the top as the runner-up of Channel 7's 2024 Dancing With The Stars and released her infectious single Peachy. The Broadway and West End smash hit musical PRETTY WOMAN: The Musical features music and lyrics by singer-songwriter Bryan Adams, alongside Jim Vallance. The musical broke box office records at the Nederlander Theatre when making its Broadway debut in 2018 and has also wowed audiences in Spain, Italy, Poland and Germany as well as an extended West End season. Once upon a time in the late '80s, Vivian met Edward and her life changed forever. Be swept up in their romance in this dazzlingly theatrical take on a love story for the ages – and get to know these iconic characters in a whole new way – in a sensational show that took London's West End by storm, guaranteed to lift your spirits and light up your heart. With a blazing rock score from GRAMMY® winners Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance (Summer of '69, Heaven), direction and choreography by Tony Award® winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Hairspray) and a book by the original movie's director Garry Marshall & screenwriter J.F. Lawton, a powerhouse creative team representing the best of music, Hollywood and Broadway ensures you'll have a pretty magical time at PRETTY WOMAN: The Musical. Book your tickets for a trip to Rodeo Drive and get ready for a big night out. Big. Huge! Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) Lyric Theatre, Brisbane From 5 October 2025 From 30 November 2025
